A77355:633
The works of William Bridge, sometime fellow of Emanuel College in CambridgeThe works of William Bridge, sometime fellow of Emanuel Colledge in Cambridge
The works of William Bridge, sometime fellow of Emanuel College in Cambridge; now preacher of the Word of God at Yarmouth. The first volume. Viz. I. The great Gospel-mystery of the saints comfort and holiness, opened and applied from Christs priestly office. II. Satan's power to tempt; and Christs love to, and care of his people under temptation. III. Thankfulness required in every condition.The works of William Bridge, sometime fellow of Emanuel Colledge in Cambridge; now preacher of the Word of God at Yarmouth. The first volume. Viz. I. The great Gospel-mysterie of the saints comfort and holinesse, opened and applyed from Christs priestly office. II. Satans power to tempt; and Christs love to, and care of his people under temptation. III. Thankfulnesse required in every condition.
London: printed for Peter Cole, 1649
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
You will say, Object. There's one thing that hinders us in the work of Praise and Thanksgiving in these times: A Reformation is now begun, and things do not succeed according to our desires in the matter of Reformation: should we? can we be Thankful now?
Yes, If the Lord give me a Child: Answ. should not I be Thankful for it, because it is not borne a man? When the Jews ⟨p. 318⟩built the Temple; did not they shout, and praise God that the Foundation was laid? When the Israelites had overcome their enemies, in Samuel's time; though the Enemies were round about them, they set up a stone, and called it Eben-ezer, 1Hitherto the Lord hath helped us. Beloved! in our Thanksgiving we are to be like unto Jesus Christ: He did not only praise God when he had the mercy, but before he had it, in the entrance upon it. When he raises up Lazarus from the dead:2 Father (says he) I Thank thee that thou hearest me always: and then he commands Lazarus to come out. But first he gives Thanks to God. In the Scripture, the holy-Ghost hath commanded us,3 To honour the Lord with our substance; and with the first fruits of all our increase. Either ye have the first-fruits of Reformation; or not. If not: what mean all those precious Ears, and fruits which ye have been gathering in these latter times? And if ye have the first fruits, though ye have not reaped the harvest yet: then, honour the Lord with your substance, and with your first-fruits; So shall your barns be filled with plenty, and your presses with the new wine of the Gospel. God does give one mercy as a seal unto another: a First as a seal to the Second: the Second as a seal to the Third: the lesser as a pledge of the greater. God does give a lesser mercy to try us, whether we will be Thankful, that he may give a greater. Beloved! these are trying times, God tries us whether we will be Thankful for what we have. A Reformation is now on foot: what though things don't succeed according to your desire, shall we not be Thankful for what we have, because we want something of what we would have? when then shall we be Thankful?